CALGARY – The University of Calgary Dinos last beat the Manitoba Bisons in Winnipeg on October 10, 1998. Quarterback Darryl Leason threw for 364 yards and three touchdowns as Calgary broke the 60-point barrier with a 63-20 victory over the Bisons, who finished that season 0-8.

Since that game 10 years and eight days before Saturday's contest between the 4-2 Dinos and the 3-3 Bisons, Calgary has gone 4-10 against the Bisons, with five straight conference losses coming at University Stadium in Winnipeg. This week, however, the upstart No. 4 Dinos have the opportunity to post a series of 'for the first time since…' statistics as they head back to the Manitoba capital for the teams' second meeting of the season.

For the first time since 1998, the Dinos are ranked No. 4 in the country. Calgary jumped two spots in the national media poll after pounding Regina 31-5 last weekend at McMahon Stadium, coupled with Saskatchewan's 20-17 loss at Manitoba which knocked the Huskies down to No. 6. A week after their last win over the Bisons in Winnipeg, the Dinos beat UBC at home to claim the No. 4 spot in the Top 10.

For the first time since 1998, the Dinos can sweep a season series with the Bisons. Since 1964, Calgary has swept Manitoba in a two-game season series 16 times, and the Dinos have the opportunity to make it 17 with a win Saturday. In the first start of his CIS career, Deke Junior completed 20 of 28 passes for 282 yards in the teams' first encounter this season, a 37-17 win at McMahon Stadium back on Sept. 6. The Bisons were riding a nearly three-year conference winning streak, and the defending Vanier Cup champions were at the time ranked No. 2.

For the first time since 2002, the Dinos can clinch a playoff spot for the second straight season. Calgary has not qualified for the playoffs two years in a row since a four-year run from 1999-2002. At 4-2 with two games remaining, the Dinos already hold the tiebreaker over 3-3 Regina thanks to last week's win and have a 20-point advantage over Manitoba thanks to the September game. A win over the Bisons, a loss by less than 20 points, or a loss by Regina at Alberta Saturday will clinch a post-season berth for the Dinos.

For the first time since 2002, the Dinos have the chance to host a playoff game. They need some help to do it, but the Dinos are in a position to host a playoff game and can finish anywhere from first through fifth in the Canada West standings. If the Dinos win both their remaining games over Manitoba and Alberta and Saskatchewan (4-2) defeats Simon Fraser (5-2) on Saturday, the Dinos will finish either first or second and host a playoff game. Saskatchewan ends the season on the road at UBC (2-5).

Sophomore tailback Matt Walter moved just two yards behind the conference rushing lead after a 200-yard performance against the Regina Rams last weekend, including a 73-yard touchdown. Walter was named Canada West offensive player of the week, and the running game will need to be sharp on the natural surface of University Stadium this weekend against the top-ranked Manitoba run defence, which has allowed just 128 yards per game so far this season.

Anthony Parker became the conference receiving leader last week after hauling in five catches for 66 yards against Regina. In five games played, Parker has averaged 71.8 receiving yards and is seventh in CW in all-purpose yards.

Manitoba's Wyatt Jacobi, meanwhile, was named the conference and national defensive player of the week after an eight-tackle, one-sack performance against the Huskies last weekend. The Herd is 2-1 at home this season, defeating Regina 25-12 in the opening game of the season and falling 28-0 to UBC a week after the Calgary loss.

Both teams end the season on the road next week, with Calgary visiting Alberta (1-5) and Manitoba at Regina (3-3).

Saturday's game will be broadcast by Shaw TV Manitoba and picked up by Shaw Calgary on a tape-delay basis, airing at 4:30 p.m. on Shaw (Cable 10) in Calgary following the Simon Fraser-Saskatchewan broadcast.

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